Coyotes take care of business with Panthers
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera senior Tayah Hernandez slides safely into third base for one of her two triples in Friday’s 10-0 victory over San Joaquin Memorial.
After a tough loss to Bullard-Fresno to open the County/Metro Athletic Conference season, the Coyotes got the pick-me-up they needed with a 10-0 victory over the San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno Panthers.
The Coyotes banged out seven hits and forced the Panthers into seven errors in a six-inning, mercy-rule victory at Zimmerman Field when the Coyotes honored its six seniors — Tayah Hernandez, Mariah McMillon, Felicity Rocha, Neveah Montes, Ari Ochoa and Vanessa Solis.
Hernandez led the offense with a pair of triples. Freshman Eliza DeAnda hit a double and drove in three runs.
Rocha, who also recorded an RBI, tossed a complete game, four-hitter with five strikeouts and only one walk.
Rocha ran into trouble to open the game. She allowed a lead-off double and a single put runners at first and third. After a pop-up, Rocha got grounder to short for the force at second to get out of the inning unscathed.
However, Rocha settled down. She retired nine straight batters to the fourth and allowed just three baserunners the rest of the game.
Madera finally got on the scoreboard in the second inning. With one out, Joslynn Davis reached on a bunt single. She stole second and third before scoring when Leilani Ricks reached on an error.
After a flyout, Ricks stole second and McMillon singled and stole second, but both runners were left stranded.
Madera sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning. Erika Perez drew a lead-off walk and stole second. A groundout moved her to third and she scored when DeAnda doubled to deep center.
Sofia Perez reached on an error and Davis drew a walk to load the bases. Ricks hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped for an error while pinch-runner Arissa Arias scored.
With the bases still loaded, Rocha drew a walk to force in Perez. McMillon forced out Davis at third, but the return throw to get McMillon at first went into right field and Ricks scored for a 5-0 lead.
Erika Perez started a two-run rally in the fourth with another lead-off walk. She stole second and came all the way around the bases to score when Hernandez laced a line drive to the right field corner for a triple.
DeAnda hit a fly ball to left that was dropped and Hernandez jogged in with Madera’s seventh run of the game.
After a scoreless fifth, the Coyotes put the game away in the sixth. Hernandez hit a drive off the right-centerfield fence for her second triple of the game. Deanda singled and Hernandez scored.
Pinch-runner Arias stole second. Davis drew a walk. Ricks put down a bunt and beat it out.
Rocha hit a short grounder, but the throw to first went wild while Arias scored and Davis raced around the bases to score the game-ending run for the 10-0 victory.
